Acetylene gas-generator.



(No Model.)

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

Patented Sept. I2, |899. F. A. MILLER.

{Appliction filed May 19, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 6" QMW IHIIIIIImm lill w/rA/EssEs .f

T s Noms Farms co, woraumo. wAsHmcrcN. u. c.

No. 633,098. Fammi sept. l2, |899.

I F. A. MILLER.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led. May 19, 189B.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A Trop/v5 )f5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. MILLER,

`OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

ACETYLDEN E-GAS G EN ERATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent' No. 633,098, datedseptember 12, 1899.

Application filed May 19, 1898.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANK A. MILLER, residing at Dallas, in the county ofDallas and State of Texas, have invented anew and ImprovedAcetylene-Gas-Generating Machine, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention, which relates to improvements in the construction ofmachines of the character noted, primarilyseeks to provide'a generatingmechanism which will generate the gas only as it is being consumed andpractically not generate an excess quantity and in which the operationof starting and stopping the generating means is automatically effected.

Theinvention also comprehends aconstruction whereby easily-manipulatedmeans are provided for facilitating a recharging of the machine with afresh supply of carbid while such machine is in operation and withoutaffecting such operation 'or the burning of any lights suppliedtherefrom.

Another object of this invention is to dispense with all turning ofvalves by hand when recharging, so that the machine may be placed in thehands of inexperienced persons without possible danger or chance vofmaking mistakes when recharging.

Among other objects this invention seeks to provide for inclosing all.of the working parts within the base of the machine and for 1 holdingsuch parts from View by means of a suitably-arranged door which whenlocked will prevent tampering with such working parts and when openadmit of ready access thereto, providing an indicator device fordisclosing the condition of the machine, and an alarm mechanismoperating to indicate'when the machine needs recharging.

Again, this invention provides in connection with the gasometer a duplexgenerating means connected therewith by suitable switch-valve mechanismscom mon to both generating means and automatically operated as onegenerator becomes exhausted to out out such exhausted generator from thegasometer or holder and place the fresh or charged generator incommunication with such holder. l

In its subordinate features this invention consists in certain noveldetails of construction and peculiar combination of parts, all of SerialN'o. 681,151. (No model.)

which will be iirst described in detail and then be specifically pointedout in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in whichproved machine complete. Fig. 2 is a side elevation,parts being in section, as seen in the direction indicated by the arrowin Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a front View of the base portion or e generatormechanism, part being in section, the 'View being taken practically onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. tis a detail side elevation, on an enlargedscale, parts being in section, illustrating the electric alarm-contacts,the indicator devices, and the switch-valve mechanisms. Fig. 5 is afront view of the parts shown in Fig. 4, the left gas offtake-pipe beingomitted. Fig. 6 isa view of one of theremovable carbid-holders, and Fig.7 is a transverse section thereof.

In the practical construction of my improvement the gasometer or holderand the generating-compartment are compactly arranged and formsubstantially a single shell or casing, of which the generatingcompartment forms the base for the gas-holder, which rises up from therear therefrom, but is held separate therefrom.

In its general construction the generating mechanism is of a duplexcharacter, two distinct and independently-operatinggenerating-compartments being provided, each of which communicates withthe interior of the holder by two distinct outlets, one for conveyingthe gas to the holder as it is being generated and the other for feedingWater from the holder to the generator-compartment. A gas-lead and thewater-feed of the two compartments, which communicate throughautomatically-operated valve mechanisms (one for the water and the otherfor the gas) common to both compartments, and which are operatedautomatically in unison, whereby to simultaneously close off onegenerating-compartment from the holder as the other compartment is putinto communication therewith, the water-feed pipe common to bothcompartments having a cut-oif valve normally held to its closed positionand opened by the drop of the movable gasometer-section, which engagesit as soon as the gas within it has been sufficiently exhausted to admitFigure l is a perspective View of my imlOO '2 esaoes pf its dropping incontact with such cut-oit valve.

Each compartment consists of ageneratingchamber having a supplementalchamber with which the gas-ofitake communicates, a hinged door, and adetachable carbid-holder adapted to be slid into the generating-chamber.This holder has a series of transverselyarranged carbid-holder pocketsor sections having stepped relation to each other from their inner totheir outer end, whereby to produce a series of distinct and separategeneratingsections adapted to be successively brought into an operativecondition by reason of the water-feed, which is arranged to firstsaturate and extract the gas from one carbidsection before it passes offinto the next section, whereby each single compartment operatesintermittently to generate only enough gas to keep up a required supplywithin the holder.

The supplemental compartment of each generator is so disposed that thewater after it has saturated the carbid held in such generator will risetherein and operate on a oatvalve normally held closed, and therebyallow for the escape of the water held in such supplemental compartmentwhich is utilized to operate a suitably-arran ged shiftin g mechanismwhich adjusts the valve devices for the gas and water outlets, cuts outthe exhausted generator devices, and sets in operation the other orfresh generating device, and at the same time operates the alarm andpartially governs the indicator devices, the operation of which iscompleted by hand manipulation when the operator opens the door of theexhausted compartment to turn oit the waste or exhausted carbid torefill the holder.

Having thus generally outlined the construction of my improvements, Ishall now proceed to describe the complete mechanism in detail, it-beingunderstood that like numerals and letters indicate like parts in all thefigures.

The gasometer consists of a stationary holder or tank A, preferablycylindrical, and the gas-collector B, the lower end of which is openandsnormallyheldsubmergedin the wa` ter, which enters` the holderthrough the pipe \V, the supply being cutoff by the fioat-operated valvedevices X Y, arranged as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The base consists of arearwardly-extending portion C, upon which the tank is mounted, and afront upwardly-extending member C', in which and the portion C theworking parts are held, such casing and the gasometer-casing beingformed of any suitable material, preferably of galvanized iron.

D D' indicate a pair of generating-chambers which extend parallel underthe tank and are held inclined, so that their rear ends are lower thantheir front ends, the purpose of which will presently appear, the saidfront end being open and provided with hinged doors N, having suitableclamp devices whereby they can be quickly opened and held closedairtight, such clamp devices comprising a hingebolt l0, having wingednuts ll,the bolts fitting the slotted Wings n on the doors when theparts are at their closed position, as clearly shownin Fig. 3. Undereach generator-chamber is detachably held a carbid-holder in the natureof an elongated drawer of a size to closely tit within such chambers andof a length substantially the same, the front ends having suitablehandles e, whereby the drawers can be readily slipped out when desired.Each drawer E has a series of water-tight transverse partitions Qc whoseupper edges are lower (about one-half inch) than the sides of thedrawer, the purpose of which will presently appear. At the front endsthe chambers D D' have each supplemental or enlarged compartm ents O O,with which the gas-chamber pipes L L connect, which pipes also connectwith the three-Way switching-valve F2, with which the gas-lead pipe Kjoins and which extends into the gasometer and discharges at a pointabove the water-line.

K' indicates a gas escape or service pipe.

I indicates a water-feed pipe disposed Within the tank and heldsubmerged, its upper end having a screened mouth 7', while its lower endconnects with the three-way valve F, with which the lateral ordistributer pipes M M/ connect and which discharge into the rearmost endof the generating-chambers, as best shown in Fig. 2, by reference towhich and Figs. 4 and 5 it will also be seen that the two valves F F2are connected to a single shifting mechanism which operates toalternately shift the valves only when one of the generating mechanismshas become exhausted. The hubs ff of the valves F F2 have a fixedconnection with a segment z, having as its axis the abutment-hubs f'f'.To this shifting member is connected the chain 7L, the opposite ends ofwhich pass through guide-rollers k and connect with the alternateoperating-buckets G, the alternate drop action of which operates on suchvalves, as will presently appear. Each bucket G has a float t, providedwith a transversely disposed hinged rod s, the outer ends of whichterminate in cranks forming lock-catches s', which when the bucketisempty after being elevated automatically moves into locked engagementwith the notched rests u' on the vertical guides u, as clearly shown atthe right of Fig. 3. t indicates a rest in the bucket G for limiting theoutward movement of the float t. The bottom of each bucket has adischarge and a valve seat in which operates a gravity-valve v, which ismoved to its open position by engagement with a Vlift-pin wat the bottomof' the casing C. Within each supplemental compartment O is held a fioatV, connected with 'the valve P, which normally-that is, when no water isin the compartment O closes ofi the discharge-pipe 20, held to emptyinto the bucket G, adjacent thereto.

fm m indicate a pair of contacts which form the terminals of theelectrical circuit for op- IOC IIO

IIS

erating an alarm, (not showin) which contacts are so arranged as to bebrought into a closed circuit at each shifting movement of the membert', which has a contact-piece t" for engaging the said terminals m m.

The top of the casing-section C has a pair of openings c c, under whichoperates a reciprocating slide-plate d', on which appear the words Full,Empty, Empty, Full, so disposed that when the word Empty appears throughthe right-hand opening c the word Full will appear through the left-handopening, and vice versa. The spacing of the words on the slide and thedistance of the reciprocal movement corresponds to the distance whichthe chain moves back and forth. e e' indicate brackets for connectingthe slide d to the chain.

30 indicates a short slide, on which at each end appears the word Full.This slide operates between the long slide CZ and the opening c c andhasfor its purpose to shut off the word on the long slide d appearingthrough the opening c, at the end of which it (the short slide) is movedto canse the word Full to appear at such end. The slide 30 has a pendentarm g at each end7 which arms alternately extend down in front on thedoors N N. The object of the slide 30 is as follows: W'hen the slide dis shifted by reason of movement of the chain 71 the word Empty will becaused to appear above the generator-chamber just exhausted. Before thedoor N of such exhausted chamber can be opened the arm g (which at thistime extends in front of it) must be moved to one side, thus moving theshort slide to bring the word Full over the chamber to be now iilledinstead of the word Empty At the same time this is done it causes theother arm vg to move in front of the other door N to effect the sameoperation on the other generating-chamber when it is exhausted. By thisarrangement it is impossible to recharge the exhausted chamber Withoutregistering unless it has been so done, a glance at the openings c beingall that is necessary to ascertain the condition of the machine.

Having thus described the detail construction of my invention, theoperation thereof is best explained as follows: As gas is being conveyedfrom the gasometer B through the service-pipe to the burners suchgasometer will descend within the tank A until the projecting plate q onthe lower edge thereof strikes and depresses the trip-lever p, whichopens the cock H, located in the water-pipe I, which allows the Water toiiow through such pipe, the switching-valve F, and the pipe M into thelowest end of the generating-chamber D and into the first section of thecarbid-drawer E, slaking some of the carbid it contains and generatinggas, which as it is thus generated rises and flows to the forward end ofthe generating-chamber into the supplemental compartment `O and passesout through the pipe L connected therewith,

switching-valve F2, and pipe K into the gasometer B. This pressure ofgas at once lifts the gasometer from engagement with the lever p, themovement of which in transverse directions is limited by the stay-chains19'192, (see Fig. 2,) which permits the cock H to assume its normalposition by reason of its being weighted, and thereby shut oif theWatersupply to the generating-chamber D, which stops the generation ofgas. The several compartments in the drawer E successively lill one at atime-that is to say, after suiiicient water has entered into the firstsection to overflow it, it will enter the next section and slake thecarbid held therein,and then the next, operating likewise, and so onuntil the last section has been reached. Thus it will be seen that onlyasmall quantity of the carbid is slaked at a time. When the last sectionat the upper end of the carbid has been exhausted and no more gas isgenerated to lift the gasometer B off from the trip-lever p, the waterwill continue to flow into compartment D until it rises in thesupplemental compartment O enough to lift the float V, which operationwill open the valve P and allow the water in such supplementalcompartment O to owinto the pail G, adjacent thereto, until it iills,when the oatvalve t therein will rise sufficient to unlock the pail fromits support, which pail then descends, and as it thus moves it switchesthe segment i, and thereby cuts off both water and gas connectionsbetween the exhausted generating-chamber andthe gasometer and at thesame time opens up such connections to the other or chargedgenerating-chamber with the said gasometer. The bucket in descendingalso shifts the signs in the openings of the casing-top and rings thealarm, it being understood that if desired connections can also be madewith the annunciator arranged at any distant point, which may also beoperated by the switching devices. The water which 'drains from thebuckets Gr by reason of the pins w lifting and opening the valves t'escapes from the machine through a dischargepipe l, located at one sideof the portion G, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the accompanyingdrawings. The water within the empty generating-chamber is eitherremoved with the drawer or it will escape through the open door anddrain olf through the discharge-pi pe Z, and the water contained withinthe drawer can be readily emptied.

I am aware that acetylene-gas-generating machines have been providedhaving the water-tank and gasometer arranged substantially the same asthe construction shown in the drawings, and I am also aware thatmachines of this character have been made in which twogenerating-chambers have been provided; but so far as I know suchgenerating-chambers have depended in their op.- eration upon hand-setvalve mechanism, and my invention so far as it relates to the generatingmechanism differentiates from duplex generating means heretoforeprovided IOO IOS

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in that the operation of shifting the charged one into use and cuttingoft the exhausted one is automatically eliected.

It will be understood that changes in the details of constructionandmodifications in the several parts described and shown may be readilymade Without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. In an acetylene-gas-generating means; in combination with thegas-holder and a Water-supply governed by the rise and fall of the saidholder to intermittently charge the generator; a generator having aseries of carbid-holding pockets adapted to be successively submerged, asupplemental gas-collecting compartment communicating with thegenerating-pockets, having a valve ofttake connection with thegas-holder; means for cutting off the water-supply, and an offtake fromthe supplemental gas-collecting compartment governed by the rise andfall of Water in the generator after all of the carbid held therein hasbeen exhausted.

2. In an acetylenegas-making machine, the combination of a gasometer, aduplex set of generators, each having a Water-supply and a gas-oltakecommmunicating with the gasometer, a switch-valve mechanism common toboth offtakes, a switch-valve mechanism common to both Water-supplies,and means governed by the excess iioW of water into the generators forshifting both switchvalve mechanisms in unison, whereby to cut out theexhausted generator and bring the other into an operative condition,substantially as described.

3. In an acetylene-gas-making machine, the combination of a generator, aduplex set of generators each havin ga water-supply and a gas-otakecommunicating with the gasometer, a switch-valve mechanism common toboth offtakes, a switch-valve mechanism common to both Water-supplies,an indicator arranged at the generators and connected with theswitch-valve mechanisms,and means governed by the excess flow of Waterinto the generators for shifting both switch-valve mechanisms in unison,whereby to cut out the exhausted generator and bring the other into anoperative condition, and simultaneously operating the indicator,substantially as described.

4. In an acetylene-gas-making machine, the combination of a gasometer, aduplex set of generators having doors and provided with removabledrawers arranged at a slight inclination and having series of pocketsarranged to be successively submerged, a gasoltake and a water -supplyfor each of the generators communicating With the gasometer, aswitch-valve mechanism common to both oiftakes, a switch valve mechanismcommon to both Water-supplies, an indicator connected with theswitch-valve mechanisms, and means governed by the excess i'low of waterinto the generators for shifting both switch-valve mechanisms in unison,whereby to cut out the exhausted generator and bring the other intooperative condition and simultaneously operating the indicator,substantially as described.

5. In the manufacture of acetylene gas; in combination; a gasometer; aduplex set of generators; an indicator; an alarm mechanism; eachgenerator having a Watersupply and a gas -offtake communicating with thegasometer; a switch-valve mechanism common to both offtakes; aswitch-valve co1n mon to both water-supplies; shifting devices foroperating the alarm; an indicator connected with such switch-valvemechanisms, and means governed by the excess flow of Water into thegenerator for shifting both switch-valve mechanisms in unison, wherebyto cut out the exhausted generator and bring the other into an operativecondition and simultaneously operating the indicator and alarm devices,as set forth.

6. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination With the gas-holder, agenerator and a water-supply governed by the rise and fall of saidholder to charge the generator intermittently, a gas-collecting chamberin communication with the generator having a valved oiitake connectionwith the holder, means for cutting oii the water-supply, and an oitakefrom the collecting-chamber governed by the rise of water in thegenerator after all the carbid held therein has been exhausted,substantially as described.

7. In an acetylene-gas-making machine,the combination of a gasometer, aduplex set of generators each having a water-supply and a gas-ofttakecommunicating with the gasometer, a switch-valve mechanism common toboth otakes, a switch-valve mechanism common to both Water-supplies, thesupplemental chambers O, having valved outlets, iioats for operating thesame, buckets connected with the valve-shifting mechanisms, said bucketshaving automatically-released escape-valves, and iioat-valves havinglock catches and detents connected with the casing, substantially asdescribed.

S. An acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, colnprising a casing formed ofa horizontal rear portion; a vertically-extended front portion having adoor; a gasometer mounted upon the horizontal portion of such casing,consisting of a water-tank, and the collector or iioat movable therein;a pair of laterallydisposed generating-chambers held within the easing,their front ends having horizontal doors, and gas-collectingcompartments; carbid-holders each consisting of a drawer having a seriesoi. transverse partitions communicating with each other at the upperedge, said drawers being slidable within the generator-chambers; aWater-supply pipe ex- IOO IIO

tended within the water-space of the gasometer, and having a cut-offvalve normally held to its closed position and adapted to be moved toits open position by the drop of the gasholder, said pipe havinglaterals discharging into the rear end of the generating-chambers andhaving a three-way valve F; the otakepipes L; the three-way valve F2,connecting such pipes; the intake-pipe K; and means for shifting thevalves F F2, in unison, substantially as shown and for the purposesdescribed.

9. In an apparatus for the purposes described; in combination with thegasometer and the generators; said generators having supplementalchambers O; the valve-waterfeed pipe I; the laterals M; the offtakes L;the intake K, and the three-way valves F F2, arranged substantially asshown, said valves having an oscillating shifting member; of the valvedoutlets connected with the generatorchambers O; the oats V, Within suchchambers; the buckets G and operating-chains h, connecting them with thevalv e-shifting member, said buckets having automatically-releasedescape-valves and float-valves having lock catches and detents u',connected to the.

casing, all being arranged substantially as shown and for the purposesdescribed.

10. In an apparatus as described; the combination with the gasometer,and means for maintaining the water therein at practically the samelevel; a casing comprising a horizontal portion extended under andforming a support for the gasoineter, and havinga front portion extendedvertically, the front being a hinged door; a pair of rearwardly anddownwardly extending generator-chambers, having hinged doors at thefront; awater-supply` pipe extended within the water-space of thegasometer, having a valve normally held closed and adapted to lbe movedto its open position when the gas-holder reaches its lowermost orexhausted position; laterals connecting such pipe with the rear or lowerends of the generating-chambers; a three-Way valve connecting suchlaterals with the Water-supply pipe; carbid-holders detachably heldwithin the generator-chambers, said holders having a series oftransverse partitions, communicating at their upper edge with eachother; otakes connected with the generating arranged substantially asshown and for the purposes described.

ll. In an acetylene-gas-generating means substantially as described; thecombination with the gasometer, and the two generators connectedtherewith, substantially as shown, said generators having hinged doorsat the front, and detachable or sliding carbid-holding drawers; thecasing inclosing such generators having indicator-openings, and anindicator-slide having pendent arms g, adapted to be alternately movedso that one of such arms will at all times be in front of either one ofthe doors of the generating-chambers, as specified.

12. The combination with the gasometer A B and casing C; thegenerating-chambersD D'; the water-supply and the otake-pipes arrangedsubstantially as shown; and the three-Way valves F F2, connectedtherewith, said valves being arranged to operate in unison; thecasing-section C', having indicator or sight openings; of the shiftingmember I, and the indicator-plate d, connected therewith, all beingarranged substantially vas shown and for the purposes described.

13'. In an acetylene-gas-generating apparatus,having a duplex set ofgenerators adapted to be alternately brought into an operativecondition, each having a water-supply pipe and otake-pipes; thewater-supply pipes of the two generators connecting with theservice-pipe by a three-Way valve, and the ofttake-pipes connecting withthe intake-pipe| for the gasometerl by a similar three-way valve, andshifting devices connecting both valves to move them in unison; oftripper mechanism, consisting of a pair of buckets, one for eachgenerator; a cable for suspending such buckets, connected with thevalveshifting member, each generator having a water.overow adapted todischarge in the bucket held adjacent thereto, said buckets havinglock-catches adapted to be automat` ically engaged with detents, wherebyto hold the buckets in their elevated position; oats within the buckets,said buckets having escape-valves adapted to engage trippers as theydrop to their lowermost position, all being arranged substantially asshown and described.

FRANK A. MILLER.

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